Procedures

Knee Arthroscopy

Knee Arthroscopy is a ‘keyhole’ technique to treat problems inside the knee joint. Two small (5mm-8mm) incisions are made at the front of the knee. One ‘portal’ is to pass a state of the art high definition fibre optic camera and the other to pass instruments for the surgery. This technique can be used for cartilage, meniscus and ligament operations. The advantage of key hole is to minimise disruption to the tissues within the knee for less post-operative pain and to allow a quick recovery. Most arthroscopic surgeries are day cases allowing patients immediate walking and discharge home the same day as the operation.

ACL Reconstruction

The anterior cruciate ligament is a small but very important structure that is in the centre of the knee joint. It connects the two large bones of the leg (the femur and tibia) and enhances the stability of the knee.It is a very commonly injured structure during sport. It most often tears when the foot is planted and the rest of the body twists. Patients often describe a distinct pop or crack followed by immediate swelling. The most common sports that result in ACL rupture are football, netball and skiing but the ACL can be injured during any sport and even just in a fall. There are reported cases of the ligament healing itself but this is rare. The biggest reason for considering reconstruction is to protect the joint from further damage, which can occur from repeated episodes of instability.